How to Know When You’ve Landed in the Wrong Career Path

As the years go by, it can be easy to become complacent with the job you have found yourself in. By extension, it is often assumed that the career path said job is in is also the best choice for you. Most people do not end up in a career that is right for them. Whether they accepted the first job they found out of college or they applied to something for convenience, landing the perfect career isn’t likely a one-and-done task.

In order to discover that you’re in the wrong career, you need to take some time for introspection and be completely honest with yourself. This process will involve asking questions to yourself that only you can answer. Lying about these feelings will only hurt your mental and physical health in the long run, so it is best to be honest.

You Get Bored Each Day

Inc. found that a majority of workers get the Monday blues. There’s certainly nothing wrong with getting bored at work, but if you can never seem to stay on task or the work that’s assigned to you never catches your attention, then it may be a sign that you are in the wrong career.

 

Oftentimes, traditional job opportunities are a little more monotonous than modern jobs. Tech-based jobs, such as coding, add far more variability to their day-to-day tasks and allow less room for boredom. This is due to the fact that coders often never have the same job twice as they are hired to handle a variety of tasks. If this sounds interesting to you, consider attending an online coding bootcamp to see if your interest is piqued. 

 

Coding is not the only modern profession that potentially reduces boredom at work, as a large number of tech-based jobs feature the same level of variety with the jobs assigned to employees.

You’re Envious of Other Careers

A major sign that the career you are in is wrong for you is if you consistently get jealous of others working around you. It is one thing to think that someone’s job is interesting, but it is a whole other thing to actually be envious of them working in that career. To that end, this may represent a lack of understanding about what you want to do.

 

Discovering your passion can be difficult, but is usually done through periods of reflection and introspection. Look up career paths that can emerge from online degrees to see if anything catches your eye. There’s nothing wrong with taking up additional education for the purpose of restarting your career in a more interesting profession. 

 

Keeping that in mind, it would be unreasonable to assume that everyone has a few years on their hands to acquire a completely new education. Attending a trade school is a great option for some, and there are a number of easy online degrees that can still set you up for a great career. 

You Are the Friend Complaining About Work

When you go to hang out with your friends, do you seem to be the one who is always complaining about their day-to-day tasks and job overall? There’s nothing wrong with being upset after a day at the office, but consistently complaining is a huge sign that something is amiss with your career choice.

 

Consider some of the top reasons for leaving a job and see if any of those line up with the things you often complain about. If so, it may be best to consider a different line of work that leaves you talking with your friends about how happy and content you are with your current career path.

Conclusion

For your overall health, it is best to get out of a mismatched career while you still can. Avoid becoming complacent with the job you’re in now if it disagrees with your personality. Watch for the key signs that you’re in the wrong career and become preemptive in switching careers. Doing so can lead you to a more lucrative and happier path overall. It’s unreasonable to assume that everyone will find a job that is the same as their passion, but it’s certainly possible for everyone to find a job that uses parts of your passion.